Tube-splicing mandrel



Mud. 24, 192s. 1,530,901 W. J. MGMILLIN ET AL TUBE SPLICING MANDREL Filed Aprila-1924 2 sheets-sneer 2 Patented Mar. 24, 192m..

.UNITED SL'FJATES I1`,5:m,9oifi' "PATENT OFFLOE.

WILLIAM JOHN MCMILLINANYD `nANInL AY`HUNT, OF BUFFALO, new YORK, As# sIGNORls 'ro DUNLOP irren AND RUBBERTOORPOBATION OF AMER.IOA,`OF BUFFALO,

i NEW YORK, 'A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK v TUBE-SPLICING f MANDREL.

applicati@ flied -Aprn 2, j

The invention relates to an improvedlap# paratusfor use in the-manufacture of rubber Atubes and particularly in` n'ieansforjoining orsplicing the ends of-said tubes.

Vhile not limited thereto," thev apparatus illustrated is adapted for'use in` themanufacture of inner tubes'for automobile tires. The invention aims to provide mea-ns whereby the ends of the tube can bes overlapped o-n a mandrel which is rigidly supported, thisniandrel being providedwwith ameniber by whichthe tube canbe hung or suspended from suitable'braclets on a travelling conveyor. v l

An embodiment of the inventif-infis-illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aperspective view showing the mandrel detachably secured toafiXed support I Fig. 2 lis a longitudinal'section through the mandrel and a supporting` `fixture or bracket;

Fig. 3 is a detail view oflthe tube splicing mandrel; V

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing/a4 plurality of .tubes supported on'their mandrels which. in turn are suspended from brackets carried by a conveyor belt.

Fig. 5 isa detailsection onair enlarged scale taken on line V5--5 ofvFig 2;

Figs. 6, 7 andS are fragmentary views illustratingfdierent steps in the operation i of splicing thetube supported by themandrel; f

Figs. '9 and l0 are detail views sho-wing respectively a mandrel clip and hook;

Fig. l1 is an end view' illustrating the manner of withdrawing of the tube from the mandrel. n i Referring in detail tothe drawings, the tube splicing mandrel represented as a whole by the numeral 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve 12 having a longitudinal slot 14 formed in the wall thereof and eX- 1924. sei-aufm. 703,608. f

in Fig. v:3. .At iapoint' approximately *jdiia- .metricallyopposite to the support 14 and securedftothe inner wallof the sleevev1'2 `is ia' longitudinally projectingA clip luvhich is welded or otherwise securedito the'sleeve. `Tot-he outer surface of thewsleeve `12V there is fsecuredua supporting memberl which is `preferably formed of 4somewhat resilient materialfand provided with a hooked end .20. i

.loand` member 18 yare substantiallylthe samelwidthfas, shown in Fig. o,

.Thefciip 7andare adapted tobe engagedwitha socket vmember1.22lwhich` is secured toma bracket-:x24 -u'rhiclr is in turn fastened to: a bench or.` table 26 byfmeans ofxsuitab'le boltsy .28: i, As shown -z'inFig 2 the mandrel lO'is supportedin an inclined position and isilirmlyryet detach- `iably.` securedl inl the socket by'sreason of the engagement of the `clip 16 andthe member il8.- When thefhookportion' of ythe/:latterll member is inserted Jin. the-socket, the hooked end` of: saidrmemberil? is flexedand itthereyby yieldinglyklocks the lmandrel to the bracket. e l 1 JThis form offsupport :is very advanta- 'geousuas itpermits the operatorto` useboth hands in splicing the tube, it being unnecessaryi for himzto benconcerned in vsupporting the mandrel in workingV position.

Trhe tube is conveniently splicedv on the mandrel by Tfirst inserting, one end 23() throughthe 1 mandrelfand doubling. `a portionf32 thereof over theoutersurface of 'thewmanfdrel asin Fig. 6.1).v The extreme end of theftube isathen ifol'dedifback to :form :a

cuff 34. The opposite end oftbe 'tube 36 is now pulled over the y`portion"82 and, ayporm I Fig. 6. The extreme*y ends ofthe tube. are skive'd or beveled olf as shown at 40 and 42. This opera-tion is preferably performed be@ fore the tubes are placed on theV splicing -mandrel` Cementisy applied to the exposed yportions 34 and 38of the tube ends and the It will be appreciated that by splicingv or cementing the ends of the tubes while they are supported on a cylindrical mandrel, an

tion 38-tliereofisfolde`d back `asvshown in i' even pressure can be exerted on all portionscan be made. j

' It is advantageous to vulcanize the joint while it is supported on Lthe splicing mandrel andto theseends `I provide means whereby Y the tube'mayfbe supported on the splicing mandrellduring vulcanization. After 'the joints'havie-ybeen cemented it is important that they be permitted to dry for a short length of `time Without oneoverlapped portion beingmoved relative to the other. The mandrel described providedvvith lthe supporting member 18 permits the same together With its cemented or spliced tube to be supportedin a position in which the joint Will not be disturbed during the time the cement is drying. y j g As shown in Fig. 4, the hooked ends 2O of the mandrels are adapted. for engage# ment With brackets 42 carried by a conveyor belt 44 which is adapted to carry thespliced or cemented tubesv to the vulcaniz'er Where the tubes are subjected to a treatment to vulcanize the joints. `The joints are preferf ably vulcanized While the tubes are-on the mandrels. Ater they are securely 'vulcanized the folded kends of the tube may be straightened out as shown in Fig. 8 and the tube may be removed from the mandrel by collapsing and pulling it through the slot 14 as y`illustrated in Fig. ll.

F rom the foregoing it. will be apparent that our improved mandrel provides means whereby the latter lis supported While the ends of the tubes are being spliced and also permits the tubes to be suspendedfrom` a conveyor While the united ends thereof are drying so that a smooth Vuniform air-tight joint may be secured. I

' Though We have describediivith great particularity the details of construction of the embodiments of the invention illustra-ted,` it

` is not to be construed that` We are limited thereto as changes inthe arrangement, and substitution of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing vfrom the invention as `defined in lthe apber secured thereto adapted to support the mandrel While the ends of a tube are being spliced thereon and also to suspend the manvdrel and tube from a conveyor While the united ends of the tube are drying.

2. A tube splicing mandrel having a yielding member secured thereto adapted to support the mandrelivhilefthe ends of atube are being spliced thereon, and a Iixture hav ing a portion coacting `vvith said member to detachably supportthe mandrel in proper Working positio 3. A tube splicingxmandrel comprising a sleeve having a longitudinal slot formed thereinto permit the `removal ofl a lspliced tube therefrom, a-xture for supporting the i mandrel While the splice is being made, and aV member securedv to `said sleeve adapted `to support the latter on said Alixture and also to sustain the mandrel and tube after they have been disengaged from said fixture.

- `4.` A tube splicing mandrel having a hook 'secured thereto adapted for. engagement With different members Wherebythe mandrel is lirst supported on a lixed member and then suspended trom a travelling member.

y 5. A tube splicing mandrel of the class described comprising a substantial cylindrical .sleeve having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, afhook secured to the Wall of the mandrel at one end and', substantially diametricallyopposite "said slot, a clip secured to the mandrel and over-lap ping part of said hook and a lixture having a socket for engagement With said hook and clip substantially as described. 6. In combination With a conveyor, a tube splicing mandrel for supporting a spliced tube, said mandrel having a hook for suspending the tube from said conveyor.

7. In combination Witha conveyor, atube splicing mandrel for supporting the overlapped cemented ends of a spliced tube durl111g they drying of the cemented joint and the vulcanization thereof, said mandrel hav.n mg a member for detachable engagement with said conveyor. f i l I n Witness" whereof, we have hereunto signed our names. j y j 'WILLIAM JOHN MCMILLIN.

DANIEL FAY IIUNT. 

